Dele Farotimi, Amnesty Int’l, SERAP condemn Sowore’s detention

Amnesty International Nigeria and Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) have condemned in its entirely the incarceration of human rights activist Omoyele Sowore by the Nigeria Police Force. Both organisations on Tuesday took to their official X handle formerly Twitter to condemn the act and demand for his unconditional release. “Amnesty International condemns the arbitrary detention of activist Omoyele Sowore who is being targeted by the police for exercising his right to freedom of expression. “The bail conditions imposed on him by the police are unconstitutional and contrary to the right to liberty,” Amnest International Nigeria pointed out. The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP also urged the Police authorities to withdraw charges against the human rights activist. “The Tinubu administration must immediately release journalist Omoyele Sowore who is arbitrarily detained solely for peacefully exercising his rights. “The police must rescind the punitive bail conditions as they are inconsistent with the right to liberty,” SERAP stated. Human rights activist and lawyer Dele Farotimi has also joined his voice to those calling for unconditional release of Sowore. “When will the Nigerian Police learn to leave Sowore alone?,” Farotimi queried. Meanwhile, Sowore is expected to appear before a Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, 29 February at 8am.

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Nigeria Police detain Sowore

A presidential candidate of African Action Congress and human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has been detained by the Police Authority in Abuja following a viral video of policemen he posted on social media few weeks ago. Sowore was taking into custody following his refusal to agree to bail conditions offfered him by the Police. Sowore disclosed this shortly before his incarceration. “It is a wrap! “The Nigeria Police Force is holding me in custody until further notice, following my refusal to accept their illegal bail condition,” he wrote on his X handle formerly Twitter. Earlier in the day, Sowore had informed that the Police assigned to his case demanded for a level 16 civil servant and that he should surrender his international passport to perfect his bail condition. “The PoliceNG team assigned to my case has informed me that the DIG of FID, Dasuki Galandachi, has reevaluated my bail conditions, necessitating the production of a level 16 civil servant and the surrender of my international passport, a condition I have declined outright. “I refuse to participate in any arrangement that undermines my personal integrity. “Below is also the response of my lawyer, Femi Falana SAN to the ridiculous request of the Nigeria Police.” ‘Dear Hon DIG, ‘Thanks for reducing the bail condition of Mr. Omoyele Sowore to a surety of level 16. ‘However, I wish to point out that such bail condition has been declared illegal by the Court of Appeal in the case of Dasuki V. Director-General, S.S.S. [2020]10 NWLR PT.1731 PG. 136-143 where Adah JCA (now JSC) held as follows: ‘Let me quickly say that of concern it is to us that as a court we must be ready and sensitive enough not to allow or do anything that will run foul of the law. ‘The issue of involving civil servants or Public Officers in the Public Service of the Federation and the State in bail of people accused of criminal offences has never been the practice in Nigeria or any part of the civilized world. It was an oversight on our part to allow it in. ‘Our Civil and Public Service Rules do not have any room for it. Expecting a Level 16 Servant to own property worth N100,000,000, will be running counter to the Public Service Rules and by extension the war against corruption. ‘It is in this respect that I will act ex debito justitiae to ensure that the aspect of involving serving Public Servant below the status of Level 16 Officer in either the state or Public Service of the Federation or any of its agencies be removed and I so order.’

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Sowore, Mr Macaroni shred Judiciary over Dele Farotimi’s detention

Frontline Human Rights activist and former Presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore has slammed the Nigerian judiciary for hurriedly prosecuting Dele Farotimi. A High Court sitting in Ekiti on Wednesday remanded Barrister Farotimi following the alleged defamation of Chief Afe Babalola in his book; Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System. Reacting to the court refusal to grant Farotimi bail, Sowore wrote on his X handle; “The Nigerian justice system is wack, as expected @DeleFarotimi has been hurriedly prosecuted and sent to prison after being denied bail by a judge in Ado Ekiti pre-arranged to do the same. “The @policeng, Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, and the judicial officers had it all planned out even before they sent the goons from Ekiti state command RRS (formerly SARS) to abduct him. “The case adjourned till December 10, 2024. “#RevolutionNow, I mean it. Nigeria is overdue for a REVOLUTION!,” Similarly, Comedian and human rights activist, Debo Adebayo popularly known as Mr Macaroni took the judiciary and the Police Force to cleaners over the treatment melted to the Lagos- based lawyer. Mr. Macaroni on Wednesday submitted; “Dele Farotimi wrote a book Called “Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System” and the brazen impunity which the book seeks to address is playing right before our eyes. “How does one describe this insanity? “Using the Police to abduct a person from one state to another state, the intimidation and harassment of his staff, seizure of their phones… How many crimes have been committed here while trying to investigate whether Mr Farotimi actually committed a crime? “For how long will the Nigerian Police continue to allow themselves be used by the “High and Mighty” to oppress Nigerians? “This is what happens when we support that civil matters be treated as criminal matters because of political differences or stanship. “We have opened the season to the rich and influential who can have a Nigerian arrested by the police because the person said that the big man’s fart stinks. “Even people who should know better now abuse power because there are zero consequences for these actions. “Our system of corruption allows the innocent man who hasn’t been proven guilty of committing any crime suffer while the guilty who commits numerous crimes trying to prove that the innocent man committed a crime roams freely. “TUEH!”

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EndBadGovernance protest: Tinubu orders release of arrested minors 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had ordered immediate release of all minors arrested and prosecuted by the Nigerian Police in connection to the recent #EndBadGovernance  protest. The President on Monday directed the Attorney General of the Federation to do everything possible to ensure minors regain freedom without prejudice to whatever legal processes are ongoing. The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs has also been directed to ensure the safe return of all the minors to their families while an investigation has been opened into the circumstances leading to their prolonged detention. Meanwhile, Amnesty International Nigeria also advised the President Bola Tinubu to order a transparent investigation of the alleged deliberate starvation of the minors as a result of detention in a deplorable condition, with deprivation of food and other basic needs, that puts their physical and mental health at grave danger.

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Usyk handcuffed, detained in Poland

Video footage of three-belt heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in handcuffs and being escorted by police at John Paul II International Airport in Krakow, Poland, set off alarms, but has been quickly followed by statements that Usyk is freed. “Dear Friends: A misunderstanding took place. It was quickly resolved. Thanks to all who got concerned. Thanks to Ukrainian diplomats for the efficient support,” Usyk wrote in a statement sent to BoxingScene and other news outlets by his manager, Egis Klimas. “And respect to Polish police for conducting their obligations with no regards to height, weight, reach and regalia. Thanks God for everything.” Usyk’s wife also posted on Instagram that “everything is fine. Oleksandr will explain everything later. Nothing criminal.” In the brief video footage, as many as four police officers are seen escorting the handcuffed Usyk toward an elevator. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported on “X” that he was involved in Usyk’s freedom, posting, “I spoke with Oleksandr Usyk on the phone after he was detained. I was disappointed by this attitude towards our citizen and champion. “I instructed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, and the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Ihor Klymenko, to immediately look into all the details of the incident at Kraków airport. Now, everything is fine, our champion has been released, and he is no longer being detained. In the photo, he is with our Consul General in Kraków right after being released.” Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs) was reportedly traveling to London to attend Saturday’s IBF heavyweight championship fight between two fighters he’s previously defeated, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois. Usyk, after surrendering his IBF belt earlier this year rather than fight his mandatory contender, is headed to a Dec. 21 rematch with former WBC champion Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia.

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